Newton athlete Kevin Shorter committed to Texas on Saturday, when he made his pledge public at 12:01 p.m. via his Twitter account (@Xx_QuickSix_xX).

The 6-foot, 190-pound Shorter, who is expected to play running back for Texas, holds about two dozen offers and has been one of the most highly sought after prospects in the state in recent months. Shorter narrowed his options to three before picking the Longhorns over Arkansas and Texas A&M for his commitment.

Shorter had a monster junior season starting on both sides of the ball for the Eagles, who finished 13-1 and reached the Class 2A Division I state semifinals. Shorter ran for more than 1,800 yards and 31 touchdowns en route to an ETSN.fm Super Team First Team selection at running back, while adding 58 tackles and three interceptions from his safety spot.

The all-around athlete also had a big junior track-and-field season, finishing second at the 2A state meet in the long jump. Shorter and the Eagles are the only East Texas team ranked as a preseason No. 1 by the Associated Press.

Shorter’s recruitment exploded during the mid-to-late winter and continued through the spring. The calls from college coaches and media became so overwhelming he decided to get rid of his cell phone.

“When I started getting offers I never thought I’d blow up like I did and it’s been fun to see all of the different schools that have recruited me,” Shorter told 247Sports.com’s Jeff Howe. “Then the phone calls started. Coaches want to you to call them back at the same time and there’s no way you can. Then reporters call and they all ask the same questions. … I’m just ready for it to be over.”

Jasper C Terrell Cuney. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Shorter also told 247Sports.com that he is “100-percent committed to Texas.”

Texas defensive line coach Bo Davis was the first to recruit Shorter for the Longhorns during the spring, but two summer visits to Austin helped him decide to choose the Horns over Arkansas and Texas A&M. Running backs coach Larry Porter was honest with him about his opportunity at Texas, he told 247Sports.com, and he appreciated that.

Shorter will join his cousin, Jasper center Terrell Cuney, at Texas. Cuney committed to the Longhorns during the spring. Shorter is the third player in East Texas’ 2014 class to commit to the Longhorns. Longview receiver Dorian Leonard is the other. Texas also has a 2015 commitment from Lufkin athlete KeKe Coutee.

The Longhorns have offered a total of 12 East Texans in the 2014 and 2015 classes — six in each class.

Shorter’s commitment gives the East Texas 2014 football class 19 Division I FBS pledges. The 2013 class had 17 FBS signees. In all, the 2014 class has 31 players with at least one FBS offer.

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